Ok , so before I start I would like to thank you all for your support and answer some of the questions:

1. Yes, I also do hope I have this story well-planned to make it all fit together :D Hahaha

2. I know I should use beta, but I'm kind of lone wolf, working my own pace and writing/posting only when I feel like it...and sometimes I return to the draft many times to change whole paragraphs or parts of story itself...so it's really difficult for me to deal with other people to work on the same thing :(

3. Yes, Abraxas Malfoy is going to get his own chapters as he is indeed a major character :)

4. and last, yes, there is going to be a pairing with Hermione, you just have to wait to find out with whom :)

Menteur: Chapter 4: Serena -Part 2

September 30, 1943

The classroom for practical magic was more of an aula rather than a normal sized room. The beige stone walls reached over 30 feet high and ran 100 feet from one corner to the other, with no decorations what so ever outside of six quinto acuto windows. The floor, on the other hand, resembled a thick old Saxony carpet which had an ability to mold its shape based on the pressure put on it. Once the duel started and the dueling platform were locked, the firm carpeted floor changed from its typical solid state into a water bed-like consistency, protecting any student hit by a curse from any serious harm caused by falling. Any other harm was free game. Tom loved dueling. It was a great opportunity to test one's practical knowledge of magic and practice reflexes, which he knew, in the end, was the only thing that counted face to face with an enemy. If he ever were to accomplish his dream for immortality, he would have to be an exceptional wizard in mind as well as in practice. Actually, he would have to be better than exceptional, because all the famous wizards and withes, such as Merlin or Morgan le Fay, were exceptional, but none of them managed to live longer than 300 years (I know Flamel and his wife were aged more than that, but let's say that Riddle doesn't know about them yet).

Tom frowned at the thought. It would be easier, if the books on those horcruxes were where they were supposed to be. Holding onto his original plan, he headed straight to the corner of the dueling platform, where Minerva Mcgonagall was already standing, practicing her hand twirl.

"Hello, Minerva, how are you today?" he asked politely his classmate.

Minerva stopped her practice, lowering the wand, and raised her eyebrow suspiciously: "What is it, Riddle?"

The tone she utilized every time they talked was like an exact parallel to their relationship- cold and formal. The always sweet and helpful 7th year Head Girl never really warmed up to him. Due to their age difference and her busy schedule two weren't even expected to be friends or create some strong bond, but even the minimal information exchange they have done was more than stand-offish. Maybe it was because she, as one of very few, could see through his innocent mask down to his empty soul, or maybe and in Tom's mind more likely, her visions were poisoned by the old fool Dumbledore, who decided to take the little half-blooded witch underneath his protective wings. And as every good girl, Mcgonagall obeyed transfiguration teacher's every command and followed every suggestion.

Tom had to pick his words wisely: "I am working on our Runes essay for Rodhnick, and I would like to read Mystical Hieroglyphs, but it wasn't in the library and as you and Mr. Lukegrass are the only ones allowed to check-out books from the Restricted Section, I would like to ask if you have it and whether it would be possible for me to borrow it for just a couple minutes. I'd be grateful. " Tom used a random book's name he knew was available only in RS, because mentioning even the slightest interest in any sort of darker magic to the nosy witch would be like running to Dumbledore himself.

"No, I do not. Try Norris or Mrs. Rodhnick. " she stated simply and turned her attention back to her practice.

"Not even the second part or at least Runes of Ancient Mage?" persisted Tom- again using a random book.

Minerva frowned and he could tell she is resisting rolling her eyes in annoyance: "No, I do not. Actually, I do not have ANY book from RS!" She stated firmly, trying to get rid of Riddle as soon as possible, and also unknowingly giving him just the information he needed.

"Well, thank you anyway. I shall try the Head Boy, then." Tom forced a polite smile, gave the older student a small bow as was custom and joined other Slytherins, who've gathered in far back of the classroom.

Soon after, Slughorn, who was this year's dueling instructor, walked in with the new girl, Serena Durand, in his heals. He laughed merrily at something she said and waved his hand lightly disregarding her statement, leaving the young girl looking quite puzzled.

Maybe she wasn't so good after all, thought Tom. She probably worried about fighting male students just like other girls and was trying to appeal to Slughorn to let her skip, or at least set her with easier oponents. Females never lasted in this class- usually running out after the first duel with tear stained cheeks- leaving Minerva Mcgonagall to be the only girl in this course. At least until now. The French witch didn't seem to notice the fact though. She stood calmly near the platform, waiting for professor to start the class.

"So, who will volunteer today?" asked Sloghorn with a huge smile, searching through the mass for any raised hands. Normally, at least one or two students would step up and be rewarded 5 points for going willingly, but that wasn't the case today. Not a single person moved or showed any intention to do so. Tom lazily raised his hand just to be immediately pulled out of the crowd by the tubby instructor.

Horace petted young's back and said: "Tom, ma' boy! It's pleasure to have my best student at hand!" Then he turned back to the student body and asked again for the second volunteer, but yet again no body spoke. His eyes fell on the French : "Miss Durand, you are new here and my colleagues tell me you excel at everything you touch... Would you like to try your abilities against Tom? I'm sure he will go easy on you." Slughorn winked at her and laughed at his own private joke, pressing the said boy closer to his side.

Serena didn't look too entertained. She glanced at Tom and swallowed: "Eh.." she struggled: "I would prefer not to." And as soon as she said the classroom broke into a fit of giggles and snorts; even Tom couldn't stop a smug smile from creeping up his face. She was scared to fight him! And he was almost worried that she could be a concurrence. Obviously, he was wrong. She paled and looked confusedly around her laughing classmates. Tom had to close his eyes so he doesn't start laughing at the obvious discomfort of the new girl.

"Ok, I'll do it!" exclaimed the girl after a second of silence. Tom was undoubtedly surprised at the girl's behavior, but at the same time he wanted to learn how much exactly she knew of magic. She wouldn't have be selected TA, if she was unintelligent or untalented. Tom, who was already up on the knee-high platform, smiled politely and stretched his hand out to offer her help getting up there. The curly haired witch took a deep breath to calm her nerves, snapped her fingers and her wand slit out of her forearm wand holder right into her open palm. Then she tapped it twice on the top of her thick hair bun and almost everybody gasped at what followed. Her long layered Slytherin school robes turned into a simple pair of torn jeans and light gray worn hoodie. Tom watched amazed, just as others, the highly inappropriate clothing. No girls wore pants, ever. Minerva, the only other girl in the classroom, covered her mouth scandalized and the male audience just openly stared with their jaws hanging low, whispering 'wow's. But Serena didn't seem to mind. Her eyes were concentrated only on Tom. Their hands connected, and he pulled her up next to him. As soon as she regained her balance to stand on her own, she jerked her hand out of his like it was burned and took a couple hurried steps away from him.

Professor Slughorn was the first one to come out of the shock and laughed: "Alright! Alright! Let's begin then. Miss Durand, I believe you know all the rules already. Just remember, we are only trying to disarm the opponent, not kill, so be careful and show me your best! Good luck!"

Young Voldemort reached into his pocked for his own wand and turned towards the new witch. She bowed and he copied her movements to let the duel begin.

"Expeliarmus." The disarming curse sped furiously towards Tom's opponent. It wasn't strong one, but it was perfectly aimed. It was just a foot away from reaching her and she didn't make any attempt to put up a shielding charm. Tom was now sure of his easy-come victory,until Serena simply stepped aside like she was dodging a pedestrian on the same side of sidewalk, causing the spell to miss her by good ten inches. Astonished Voldemort decided it was time to raise the bar and threw couple disarming spells and even one stunner at her, but the young witch dodges every single one with the precision of an auror. In the background he heard professor Slughorn cheering Serena on to 'finally' use some magic, but he was too concentrated on his choice of the next step to pay any attention to him. Then he got a great idea- with the use of basic transfiguration charm he turned the old-fashioned watch on his wrist into a small metal dagger and flung it forward in an incredible speed, so Serena had no chance to jump away. The sharp weapon whooshed past her, ripping the thin material of her gray sleeve close to the elbow and following its straight path until it hit the wall, and crashed down with quiet jingle. Serena's eyes widened in fear as she checked her arm for any injury, but when she didn't find any she turned back to him with the frown. Tom watched her silently whip her dark brown wand in a, for him, unfamiliar manner till a small orange spark left its end, quickly gaining speed and size. When he finally casted an armoring charm, the tiny flame has already transformed into a gigantic fire ball and Tom's shield could barely hold it back.

A small part of vicious flames passed through the pale mist of the shielding charm, stinging Tom's right cheek and burning his shiny hair to the dark ashy fuzz. He gasped in pain as the spell wore off, leaving the naked bleeding flesh exposed to the cold air of the castle and drops of salty sweat running down his forehead straight into the open wound. The corners of Serena's mouth shot up a bit turning her frown into an insecure smile and Tom's eyes burned with anger. How could he let this happen? Dark thoughts began to cloud his mind with possible dark curses he could use to make this little bitch suffer and almost perfect spell came to his mind.

"Laitus Nomurus" he whispered.

This spell was power-draining, but very effective and for a dark spell practically untraceable. He himself shifted the base magic of the Cruciatus curse, to manipulate its visibility, style, and impact strength without changing its effects.

Serena gasped for breath, letting her wand drop onto the floor and following shortly after hitting her knees and elbows on the wooden podium. He could tell she felt every last bit of it. Her ribcage moved in faster pace, and hands were shaking. Tom wished to kill her, to make her hurt…

Suddenly he felt a strong pressure closing around his neck like if somebody took a chocking dog collar and dragged him by it backwards. With his free hand he reached for his throat, immediately recognizing the invisible binding straps usually created by Silarius spell- one of the darkest jinx outside of the Unforgivable.

His eyes shot to the witch on the floor before him, still holding on all four. One of her hands was stretched before her, palm up, clutched in a fist-like shape.

Due to the oxygen loss it took him a second to realize it was her casting the spell- wordless and wandless!

His vision started to close in and the last thing he could see before passing out, was the pair of chocolate orbs looking at him with pure defiance.

To be continued...

So review and comment :) and happy new year!